Mobile track lifting apparatus



Jan. 19, 1965 F.'PLAS$ER ETAL' 3,165,837

MOBILE TRACK LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1961 INVENTORS.

United States Patent 3,165,837 l' /IOESHLE TRACK LIFTENG APPARATU Franz Piasser and iosef Theurer, both of .l'ohannesgassc 3, Vienna, Austria Filed Oct. 27, 196i, Ser. No. 149,816 Claims priority, application Austria, Oct. 31, 1969, A 8535/64 6 Claims. (Ci. 33-60) The present invention relates to mobile track lifting apparatus useful in track aligning operations wherein the track lifting is determined in relation to a reference line extending in the direction of the track and being vertically spaced therefrom.

Apparatus of this type is known and various means have been suggested for establishing the reference line which, in turn, determines the lifting stroke. For instance, reference lines have been constituted by a tensioned wire extending over the track section to be aligned, a sighting line, a light beam or linking systems.

It is one object of the present invention to eliminate special reference points mounted at a distance from the front end of the mobile apparatus and thus to make the operation of the apparatus independent of any auxiliary means arranged apart from the appartus. While it has been proposed to make the mobile apparatus long enough so that it may itself serve as a reference point in that portion of the apparatus which rests on a previously corrected track section, this arrangement leads readily to errors which increase in size as the alignment proceeds along the track and thus make accurate alignment impossible.

It is another object of this invention to prevent the vibration of tensioned reference wires used in conjunction with mobile track lifting apparatus which includes vibratory tramping tools.

The above and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by providing a two-armed beam on the mobile track lifting apparatus, the beam being pivotally mounted on a pivot arranged on the apparatus and the pivoting plane of the beam being parallel to the track direction and perpendicular to the track. Means is provided on the pivotal .beam which establishes the reference line.

A pivotal beam of this type always establishes a true reference line which is not influenced by, and is independent of, the position of the mobile aparatus on the track and this reference line can be used to determine the lifting stroke, the track being aligned parallel to the reference line.

According to one preferred feature of the invention, the pivotal position of the beam either in a horizontal line or in an oblique line may be controlled by arranging weight means on the beam, which always tends to bring the beam into a predetermined pivotal position and to hold it there to establish the desired reference line. Preferably, such weight means is adjustable to bringthe beam into a position parallel to the desired position of the track and this may be a weight longitudinally movably mounted on one arm of the beam.

Advantageously, the two-armed beam of this invention is used in the type of mobile track lifting apparatus wherein a vertically extending grade indicating element is vertically movably mounted on the apparatus, one end of the element resting on the track for vertical movement therewith upon lifting of the track and the other end being arranged to engage the reference line whereby engagement of the other end with the reference line terminates the lifting stroke of the track. In this case, the beam itself may be adjustable in its pivotal position or it may carry a vertically adjustable means, such as a calibrated rod, to establish an oblique reference line if the aligned position of the track is to depart from the hori- 3,355,837 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 "ice zontal. The required inclination of such a reference line established by the beam may be determined by various means. It is derived, for instance, simply from the existing profile of the track or it may be obtained by a sighting line from a point spaced from the apparatus. It is also possible to determine the lifting stroke at each point by measuring or surveying and to feed this information directly to a device adjusting the pivotal position of the beam in accordance with the local measurements.

The very inertia of the two-armed pivotal beam makes it suitable for establishing a reference line, particularly when the pivotal position of the beam is stabilized by a weight. However, to assure a completely fixed position of the beam during the grading operation, it is preferred to provide means for arresting the pivotal beam in any pivotal position. This arresting means is preferably responsive to the stoppage of the apparatus at the point of the grading operation and will advantageously be effected in conjunction with the actuation of the brake means for the apparatus.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein the single figure shows a schematic side view of a track lifting apparatus according to this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a track including rails 1 and ties 2, a section of the track forwardly of the mobile track lifting apparatus to be aligned with a previously corrected track section whereon the track lifting apparatus rests with its wheels. The illustrated track lifting apparatus is generally conventional, wherefor the known elements of the apparatus have not been shown or have been indicated only schematically.

The illustrated type of track lifting apparatus is shown to comprise a carriage 5 which moves on the track, a hydraulic track lifting jack 6 mounted at the front end of the carriage, track tamping tools 14a vertically adjustably mounted on the carriage and a vertically extending grade indicating element 4 which is linked to the jack and has one end resting on the track so that the element 4 rises with the track when the latter is lifted. The other end of the grade indicating element is arranged to be aligned with imaginary sight line 3 and the calibrated rod 9 when the track is lifted, this sight line being established from telescope 3' mounted on a section of the track spaced from the front end of carriage 5, the track section between the front wheels of the carriage and the telescope 3' to be aligned.

All of this structure is known and is illustrated merely by way of example, equivalent structures being equally useful in combination with the present invention. As shown, the invention provides a two-armed beam 8 and a pivot 7 arranged on the carriage 5 in vertical alignment with the front wheels of the carriage and mounting the beam pivotally in such a manner that the pivoting plane of the beam is parallel to the track direction and perpendicular to the track. Means is mounted on the beam determining the reference line and holding the same in position, the end of the lifting stroke being indicated when the upper end of the element 4- contacts the reference line determined by this means. In the illustrated embodiment, this means is vertically adjustable and is constituted by a calibrated rod 9 which may be vertically reciprocated in a bearing in the beam and then held in a predetermined position, for instance by means of a set screw (not shown).

The illustrated embodiment shows weight means arranged on the beam 3 for holding the same in a predetermined pivotal position and thus to stabilize the same against oscillatory movements. This weight means includes a weight 8' mounted on an arm 15 extending from the beam downwardly toward the track in the plane of the pivot. Depending on the vertical adjustment of calibrated rod 9, the reference line established by the contact point between the rod and element 4 will assume a more or less oblique direction in relation to the pivotal beam 8. However, it is also possible to impart an oblique inclination to the beam itself and this may be accomplished by a weight means it? which is longitudinally adjustably mounted on one arm of the beam 3, the'inclination being ascertainable by reading a scale 9 cooperating with a pointer at the end of the beam arm and fixedly mounted in relation to carriage 5.

The adjustment of the position of the beam or of rod 9 depends on the track correction and profile, which gives the track inclination at each point, or this inclination is adjusted by sighting the fixed reference point constituted by pivot 7 through telescope 3 to establish a reference line as the carriage proceeds from tie to tie to align the track section and fix it in aligned position by tamping ballast under the ties.

The mobile track lifting apparatus is shown to be provided with brake means constituted by hydraulic brake 14 to stop the forward movement of carriage 5 intermittently, as lifting and tamping proceedsfrom tie to tie. This brake means is shown connected to an arresting means for arresting the pivotal movement of the beam in -response to the actuation of the brake means. The illustrated arresting means includes a hydraulically operated brakeshoe 13 arranged to engage an arcuate plate 11 at the end of one beam arm, a common hydraulic circuit 16 simultaneously supplying pressure fluid to the actuating cylinders for brake 14 and brake shoe 13. In this manner, the beam is automatically fixed in position at the same time that the apparatus is stopped on the track for a track lifting and tamping operation.

The operation of the described apparatus will be obvious from its structure.

If the track section is to be aligned at a predetermined grade obliquely inclined to the horizontal, which inclination may be established by sighting, for instance, the longitudinally adjustable weight 1.0 may be moved until the pivotal beam 8 assumes a corresponding inclination or the calibrated rod 9 is vertically adjusted to obtain the same result, the reference line being determined in either case by contact between the upper end of grade indicating element 4 and rod 9.

When the apparatus is stopped at a point of track 1, which is to be graded, the pivotal beam is arrested in its previously determined correct position which is totally independent from the position of the supporting carriage on the track. Hydraulic jack 6 is now operated and its lifting stroke is terminated when the upper end of element 4, which moves up with the track, contacts rod 9. In a manner known in the art, this contact may automatically cause termination of the hydraulic jack operation since it indicates the proper grading of the track in relation to the predetermined reference line. This same operation is repeated at each tie, as the track lifting apparatus moves intermittently from tie to tie in a continuous track aligning operation, the pivotal beam 8 having suflicient time during the movement of the carriage from one tie to the next one to reassume its predetermined correct position, particularly since any position changes are very small in view of the fact that the carriage itself moves only on a previously corrected track section.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, it will be clearly understood that many variations and modifications may occur to the skilled in the art, particularly after benefiting from the present teaching, without departing from the d spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A mobile track lifting apparatus useful in a track aligning operation wherein a track lifting stroke is determined by the position of a grade indicating element in relation to a reference line, comprising a swingable twoarmed beam extending in the direction of the track and being vertically spaced therefrom, a pivot arranged on the apparatus and mounting the beam for pivoting in a plane parallel to the track direction and perpendicular to the track, and adjustable weight means arranged on the beam for holding it in a predetermined pivotal position and thus to establish the beam as said reference line.

2. The mobile track lifting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an arm extending from the beam downwardly toward the track in the plane of the pivot, said weight means being mounted on said arm.

3. The mobile track lifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said weight means is longitudinally movably mounted on one arm of said beam.

4. A mobile track aligning apparatus useful in a track aligning operation, comprising a grade indicating element vertically movably mounted on the apparatus, one end of the grade indicating element resting on the track for vertical movement therewith upon lifting of the track, a swingable two-armed beam extending in the direction of the track and being vertically spaced therefrom, a pivot arranged on a portion of the apparatus resting on a previously corrected track. section and mounting the beam for pivoting in a plane parallel to the track direction and perpendicular to the track, a forward end of one of the arms of the beam extending forwardly of said pivot and into the plane of the vertical movement of the grade indicating element, and weight means arranged on the beam for holding it in a predetermined pivotal position and thus to establish the forward end of the beam arm as 2. reference line determining the track lifting stroke.

5. A mobile track lifting apparatus useful in track aligning operations wherein the track lifting is determined in relation to a reference line extending in the direction of the track and being vertically spaced therefrom, comprising a two-armed beam, a pivot arranged on the apparatus and mounting said beam pivotally, the pivoting plane of said beam being parallel to the track direction and perpendicular to the track, means on said pivotal beam establishing the reference line, means for arresting the pivotal beam in any pivotal position, brake means for stopping the apparatus on the track, and means connecting the brake means with the arresting means for arresting the pivotal movement of the beam in response to actuation of the brake means.

6. The mobile track lifting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vertically adjustable member mounted on a forward end of one of the arms of the beam extending forwardly of said pivot, the pivot being arranged on a portion of the apparatus resting on a previously corrected track section, and means for establishing a sight line from a track section to be aligned forwardly of said apparatus to said pivot, the vertically adjustable member being in the path of said sight line when vertically adjusted in relation thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,350 5/06 Janssen et al 3385 2,962,979 12/60 McCormick 33-6O X FOREIGN PATENTS 753,519 7/56 Great Britain.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner. 

5. A MOBILE TRACK LIFTING APPARATUS USEFUL IN TRACK ALIGNING OPERATIONS WHEREIN THE TRACK LIFTING IS DETERMINED IN RELATION TO A REFERENCE LINE EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE TRACK AND BEING VERTICALLY SPACED THEREFROM, COMPRISING A TWO-ARMED BEAM, A PIVOT ARRANGED ON THE APPARATUS AND MOUNTING SAID BEAM PIVOTALLY, THE PIVOTING PLANE OF SAID BEAM BEING PARALLEL TO THE TRACK DIRECTION AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE TRACK, MEANS ON SAID PIVOTAL BEAM ESTABLISHING THE REFERENCE LINE, MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE PIVOTAL BEAM IN ANY PIVOTAL POSITION, THE BRAKE MEANS FOR STOPPING THE APPARATUS ON THE TRACK, AND MEANS CONNECTING THE BRAKE MEANS WITH THE ARRESTING MEANS FOR ARRESTING THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE BEAM IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF THE BRAKE MEANS. 